Complications of Varicose Veins
There are two types of complications.
1. Acute complications
a. Bleeding
b. Thrombophlebitis
c. Cellulitis
2. Chronic complications: Chronic Venous Disease (CVD)

Stages of Chronic Venous Disease (CVD)    
There are seven stages  and described usually as Class-0 to Class -VI
Class-0: This is the first stage of the disease and remains hidden till the person attains full growth (between 15-25 years of age).
Class-I: The infantile veins (Stage-2) which remain usually symptom-free.
Class-II: The mature veins (stage-3) which may produce aching in the legs.
Class-III: The initial complication begins (Stage-4). This is characterised by the appearance of the swelling in the legs when standing for some time. When the patient wakes up in the morning, the leg is normal.
Class-IV: Pigmentation, itching, eczema, leathery skin changes etc; (Stage-5)
Class-V: Appearance of small,shallow ulcers which are very painful and heals by itself after some time but reappears. This process is repeated again and again. (Stage-6)
Class-VI: The final stage of the disease (Stage-7), characterised by the non-healing, painful, eroding, unsightly ulceration around the ankle region which creates an aversion to others which results  in severe psychological upsets.

All the above described changes are confined to an area of the leg beginning from the ankle region to the lower two-third of the leg and the proximal half of the foot.The intensity is maximum over the ankle region. Beginning from the junction of the lower-third with the upper-third of the leg no changes are manifested. Above the knee there are no dermatological changes.